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Scott Hudson's Review

The Minneapolis RustFest

The Set List

Monday afternoon, back at work and hating life.

I'm struggling to make it through the day, partly due to fatigue but mainly due to a great weekend of live music, merriment, bars, and restaraunts.

The weekend started off Friday at noon, heading out of SD with two friends. We made it up to the Cities at 4:30, and after checking in with with our friend who was making room for us in her one bedroom apartment, we headed downtown to see Paul Westerberg. We had two tickets for the show which were in the second row of the balcony, and had to meet an acquaintance who had two more unspecified tickets for us. When he showed up, I couldn't help but squeal with excitement when I saw they were the second row on the main floor! I begged my freinds for the use of that set, and knowing my love for Westerberg and the 'mats I got 'em. What a show! I'll keep this section short because it is NNC but it was one of the greatest shows I had ever seen, even when he smashed his guitar, ala Townshend, at the end..

From there we headed a couple of blocks to a bar to meet up wtih a couple of writer buddies of mine. Standing at the bar, I looked to the side and noticed Gary Louris and Marc Perlman from the Jayhawks and Golden Smog. I had talked to them before, but knowing they would have no way of remembering me, I refrained from bugging them. A little later Tommy Keene, a brilliant songwriter that is now touring as Westerberg's guitarist, also showed up. Earlier in the day I had spent a few minutes talking to former Replacement Slim Dunlap, who's got a great Stones-y album coming out next month.

The next day we stumbled to a restaurant for coffee and bloody mary's before heading to Chuck King's RustFest. I have to say right here what a standup family the Kings are. Opening their home to not only wayward souls like ourselves, but 25 other people who they did not know, is a fairly risky proposition, but the Kings handled it like perfect hosts. It was great putting faces on some of these names that I had seen everyday on these pages.

There was certainly great food, although I didn't sample much because of our pre-festivities meal. but I have to give a thumbs up to the mock duck and the wonderful deserts.

I also have to point out the remarkable condition of Chuck's archives. If I could be 1/10th as organized as Chuck I would be a better person. Mrs. King must be a wonderful wife to allow the time and energy needed to keep up with Chuck's obsessions. < :)

From there we headed to the show, with a quick stop at the apartment to change clothes. We got in about halfway through Sponge's set, the only downer of the evening. Everybody else gets quality acts like Steve Earle, Son Volt, the Gin Blossoms -- even Jewel would have been better. I didn't realize that Poison was still together. Seriously, I think it's safe to say that these guys were a pretty boy metal band about five years ago but saw a chance to make some cash by jumping on a bandwagon.

But Neil more than made up for it. I loved everything about the show; from the candlelit stage setting to the "scientific" stage crew. I've given a lot of thought about the setlist. Sure, I wish it had more surprises, but I think the show had something for everyone. The big songs were there for the fair weather fans, but the amped-up delivery and drawn-out endings certainly satisfied the more avant-garde fans. Even with all of the hits, there was still many songs on this tour that weren't on the Booker T show, the last time I saw him.

Also, some have complained about the loudness of the show. Maybe the others were louder, but I thought the levels were perfect. Maybe a little bombastic, but that's due more to the Target Center than Neil and his soundcrew.

Anyway, I want to once again say thanks to the Kings for everything, from their hospitality at their home to the time and effort they took in getting our tickets. And before I forget, my non-internet friends that were at the party (and who won door prizes instead of me   :)   ) have also instructed me to thank the Kings. They had a great time.

Scott

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